Expansible chain structure



May 17, 1938. s. o. BIGNEY ExPANsIBL CHAIN STRUCTURE Filed Feb. 2 1938 ATTORNEYS.

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Patented May 17, 1938 UNiTED STATES EXPANSIBLE CHAIN STRUCTURE Sidney 0. Bigney, Attleboro, Mass., assignor to S. 0. Bigney & Company, a corporation of Massachusetts Application February 2, 1938, Serial No. 188,272

7 Claims.

lThis invention relates to an expansible chain of a character particularly adapted for use as a bracelet; and has for one of its objects the provision of an arrangement which will be elastically extendible a. sufficient amount so that the encircling length may be enlarged to an extent to permit the same to easily pass over the hand of the user to and from position on the wrist.

Another object of the invention is to provide an extendible chain which will be easily extendible and yet will be sufficiently elastic to return to contracted position that it may be snug about the wrist without binding on the wrist.

Another object of the invention is to so artheir action will be more efficient than in similar structures which have heretofore been provided.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a structure which will sufficiently close when contracted so that wide spaces will not be provided between its parts that the hand may be viewed.

Vith these and other objects in View, the invention consists of certain novel features ofcon- 2 struction, as will be more fully described, and

particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

in the accompanying drawing:

Fig. l is a side elevation indicating an encircling structure with a few of the parts in full lines and the remainder represented by dotted lines;

Fig. 2 is a top plan View of a length of the chain structure;

Fig. 3 is a bottom plan View thereof;

4: is a top plan View of the structure in expanded position;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view on line 5-5 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a sectional View on line 5 6 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 'l is a sectional View looldng into one of the hollow bars or body members with the link members shown in their relative positions therein, this section being taken on substantially line 'l-1 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a sectional view on substantially line 8-8 of Fig. '7;

Fig. 9 is a perspective View of one of the link members;

Fig. 10 is a perspective View of one of the plate members;

Fig. 1l is a perspective view of one of the springs;

Fig. 12 is a perspective view of the pivot pin.

In the use of bracelet structures it is desirable that the bracelet expand Without a great amount of tension being applied to the parts, that it conrange the elastic means, such as springs, that (c1. ssa-Q) tract completely to` snugly fit the wrist without binding thereon; and in order to accomplish these results the arrangement of the Springs in the bracelet is of importance. I have provided two springs whose combined action permit of this 5 expansion without a great deal of tension and yet completely contract the bracelet when the expanding force has been relieved; and the following is a more detailed description of the present embodiment of this invention, illustrating the preferred means by which these advantageous results may be accomplished:

With reference to the drawing, the chain designated generally |5 is composed of a plurality of units I6, such `as indicated in Fig. 7. These units are connected together by rings ll passing through openings I8 in the ends of links which form part of the unit, and as each of these units is the same the description of one will suffice.

A hollow body member or bar 2li is formed by 20 drawing up sheet stock and Striking the same to deilect the stock and provide indentations oi ornamental form in the face or top wall 2l thereof, while side walls or flanges 22 at the ends 23 along the longitudinal extent are provided to form a cup-shaped structure. The ornamentation 2| formed as stated to provide depressions in the outer surface causes projections 24 on the inner surface of the top wall 2| which serve to support a plate 25 therein in spaced relation.

Slots 26 are provided in the flanges or walls 23 and through these opposite slots 26 there eX- tend a pair of Z-shaped link members 21 in superimposed relation. These Z-shaped links have their middle portions 28 in contiguous relation while their end arms 2S extend in opposite directions from the ends of the middle portion and in opposite directions from each other. A pivot pin 30 extends through the openings 3| in the Z-shaped connecting links and also through the plate 25 and through a companion plate 32 on the opposite side of the links to pivotally relate the links together and also pivotally relate the links with reference to the plates 25 and 32 which engage the opposite side and end walls or anges 22 and 23.

Springs 33 are positioned between the plates 25 and 32 and between the end flanges 22 and the middle portions 28 of the Z-shaped connecting links so as to act between the end walls 22 and the Z-shaped connecting links tending to swing the connecting links so as to position the middle portion 2B of the links generally at right angles to the axis of the hollow body links or in 55 the position shown in Fig. '7. 'I'his is accomplished particularly well by reason of the generally square-shaped springs shown in Fig. 11 as the portions 35 and 33 of these springs each will engage the edge of the Z-shaped connecting link as at 3l' and 38 so that each spring acts upon both links tending to swing it about its pivot until the center portions of the links are in registry or alignment when of course the action of the springs will cease. It will, therefore, be apparent that a single spring would cause both links to operate but by reason of the fact that there are two springs the eiective action in moving the links is increased and yet soft springs or those requiring a minimum amount of tension to extend them may be provided.

The domed back wall 39 is positioned within the flanges or walls 22 and 23 of the hollow body link and the edges lll of these flanges rolled in to maintain this back in place and also hold the plate 32 in a desired position for guiding of the springs in their action. The pivot pin 30 is of suicient length so that riveting over is unnecessary, it being prevented from the escape by the top or front wall 2i and also by the back wall 39.

When the units IS are connected together a pull on the chain will cause the links to move from the position shown in Fig. 2 to the position shown in Fig. 4 and when such tension is relieved the springs will swingthe links back again to the position shown in Fig. 2, thereby contracting the encircling size of the bracelet.

The foregoing description is directed solely towards the construction illustrated, but I desire it to be understood that I reserve the privilege of resorting to all the mechanical changes to which the device is susceptible, the invention being defined and limited only by the terms of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. An expansible chain structure comprising a series of connected units, 4each unit comprising a hollow body member, a pair of links crossed within said body and each extending through opposite sides of the body and movable with relation to each other and to said member from a contracted to an expanded position, and a spring in each member acting on both of said links to move them to contracted position.

2. An expansible chain structure comprising a series of connected units, each unit comprising a hollow body member, a pair of links crossed within said body and each extending through opposite sides of the body and movable with relation to each other and to said member from a contracted to an expanded position, and a pair of springs in each member each acting on both of said links to move them tov contracted position.

3. An exp-ansible chain structure comprising a series of connected units, each unit comprising a hollow body member, a pair of links crossed within said body and each extending through opposite sides of the body and movable with relation to each other and to said member from a contracted to an expanded position, and a coiled spring in each member acting on both of said links to move them to contracted position.

4. An expansible chain structure comprising a series of connected units, each 'unit comprising a hollow body member, a pair of links crossed Within said body and each extending through opposite sides of the body and movable with relation to each other and to said member from a contracted to an expanded position, and a pair of coiled springs in each member each acting on both of said links to move them to contracted position.

5. An expansible chain structure comprising a series of connected units, each unit comprising a pair of links pivoted together, a hollow body containing said pivot and a portion of said links, and a spring within said body acting simultaneously on both of said links.

6. An expansible chain structure comprising a series of connected units, each unit comprising a pair of crossed links pivoted together, a hollow body containing said pivot and a portion of said links with the opposite ends extending outwardly on opposite sides of said body, and a spring within said body acting simultaneously on both of said links.

7. An expansible chain structure comprising a series of connected units, each unit comprising a pair of links pivoted together, a hollow body containing said pivot and a portion of said links, and a pair of springs within said body each acting simultaneously on both of said links.

SIDNEY O. BIGNEY. 

